France and the Future of the European Union
France and the Future of the European Union
Contributor(s): Elżbieta Kaca (Editor), Dorota Liszczyk (Editor), Roderick Parkes (Editor), Brien Barnett (Editor), Dorota Dołęgowska (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Social Sciences, Economy, National Economy, Supranational / Global Economy, Governance, Sociology, Economic policy, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Economic development, Geopolitics
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: European Union; France; EU issues; economic growth; EU policy; French economy; international relations; geopolitics; Eurozone; Economic and Monetary Union; security policy;
Summary/Abstract: At the EU level, President Hollande is attempting to distance himself from his predecessor by putting emphasis on growth measures, as a supplement to the austerity policies opposed by some southern European states, and by opening up the Franco-German tandem to new players, notably the southern members but also those to the east. Franco-German disagreements concerning current EU issues, notably the scope of the banking union and the solidarity agenda towards the south, are negotiable. In relation to the future of the European project, however, besides a shared reluctance to deepen EU integration and an acceptance for strengthening eurozone governance in a multispeed format, the two countries barely share a common vision. This lack of a shared vision is, however, partly the result of a difficult domestic situation that plays a vital role in Hollande’s EU policy. The president has to face the challenge of restoring growth to the French economy and addressing deep French euroscepticism as well as arriving at consensus on EU policy within his own Socialist Party (PS), riven by splits since the debate on the Constitutional Treaty. Common Security and Defence Policy is, by contrast, an area of continuity, and no major change is expected in France’s involvement in developing the policy. Indeed, due to defence budget constraints, the focus will be a pragmatic one on developing concrete cooperation in the industrial field in a bilateral or trilateral format. Partnership with Poland would be fruitful.
Series: PISM Reports
- E-ISBN-13: 978-83-62453-54-2
- Page Count: 28
- Publication Year: 2012
- Language: English
Opening Words
Opening Words
(Opening Words)
- Author(s):Maciej Witucki
- Language:English
- Subject(s):National Economy, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Economic development
- Page Range:7-8
- No. of Pages:2
- Keywords:France; European Union; bilateral relations; international relations; French elections; president François Hollande; French politics; direct investments;
- Summary/Abstract:In 2008 French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the late Lech Kaczyński. Both countries committed to enhanced cooperation in the political, economic, social and cultural field in bilateral and EU relations and also to collaboration at the NATO level. In 2012, the new President of the Republic François Hollande completed his first official visit to Poland. World politics have changed significantly over the last four years, and the French political scene has reflected the turmoil of our times. France remains a leading foreign investor in Poland. French business ranks highly in the Polish economy—the capital of Seine-based companies accounts for around 13–16% of total foreign capital. French direct investment in Poland (according to various estimates) currently reaches €15 billion.
Introduction
Introduction
(Introduction)
- Author(s):Elżbieta Kaca, Dorota Liszczyk
- Language:English
- Subject(s):National Economy, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Economic development, Geopolitics
- Page Range:9-10
- No. of Pages:2
- Keywords:France; French politics; president François Hollande; European Union; European issues; Eurozone; economic growth;
- Summary/Abstract:The French political landscape completely changed after the last presidential and parliamentary elections, as the Socialist Party acquired a political monopoly. They have gained a majority in the Senate and won an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Most importantly, Socialist candidate François Hollande managed to defeat the incumbent and centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy to become president. On 6 May 2012, Hollande won the election with 51.64% of votes compared to 48.36% for his opponent. Therefore after three failed attempts (in 1995, 2002 and 2007) the Left returned to Élysée Palace.
France after the Elections and the Future of the European Union
France after the Elections and the Future of the European Union
(France after the Elections and the Future of the European Union)
- Author(s):Olga Cichowlas
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Supranational / Global Economy, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Economic development, Geopolitics
- Page Range:11-12
- No. of Pages:2
- Keywords:France; French elections; European Union; national and EU policies; economic policy; economic growth; Eurozone crisis;
- Summary/Abstract:The outcome of May’s French presidential elections reflected the will for change in France, in relation to both domestic and EU policies. Like numerous Member States, France is currently economically weak and requires extensive reform. Simultaneously, the European Union is experiencing a triple crisis in the economy, governance and political legitimacy. Low mobility and varying degrees of competitiveness between the countries that share the same currency sap the Union’s resources; inter-governmentalism, introduced as a replacement for the community method, has failed as a mode for solving the eurozone crisis; and European citizens increasingly view the EU with scepticism. In this context, François Hollande’s victory held out the promise of an improved political atmosphere for the discussion of EU policies and a novel means to deal with the eurozone’s long-standing financial crisis. By opening Franco-German cooperation to other Member States and broaching the debate on the EU’s “pro-growth agenda,” the French Socialist president is trying to reshape policies on both a national and European scale. François Hollande’s efforts to distance himself from his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, are particularly evident in his attitude towards the financial crisis and the future of the EU.
The Socialist Party’s Divisions on European Union Policy and Its Preconditions
The Socialist Party’s Divisions on European Union Policy and Its Preconditions
(The Socialist Party’s Divisions on European Union Policy and Its Preconditions)
- Author(s):Szymon Stellmaszyk
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Civil Society, Governance, International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, EU-Legislation, Geopolitics
- Page Range:13-16
- No. of Pages:4
- Keywords:France; Socialist party; European Union policy; democracy; EU treaty; French referendum;
- Summary/Abstract:The divisions in the French Socialist Party around the issue of the European Union are nothing new. The most famous split occurred in the wake of the 2005 decision to hold a national referendum between those who campaigned for the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and those who were against it. Months before the referendum, the Socialist Party consulted its members. The “Yes” vote won with 59%, but the “No”-bloc continued their campaign outside the party, opposing the Constitutional treaty, citing a lack of democratic accountability and the threat that it posed to the European social model.
France and the Deepening of the Eurozone: Is There a Way for Franco-German Convergence?
France and the Deepening of the Eurozone: Is There a Way for Franco-German Convergence?
(France and the Deepening of the Eurozone: Is There a Way for Franco-German Convergence?)
- Author(s):Yann-Sven Rittelmeyer
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Governance, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Geopolitics
- Page Range:17-19
- No. of Pages:3
- Keywords:France; European Union; Eurozone; French-German relations; support of the EU Member States;
- Summary/Abstract:François Hollande’s election to president in May 2012 raised fears about a difficult relationship with Germany that could hamper the evolution of the European project at a time when deeper integration—especially of the eurozone—has been widely identified as the best way to overcome the economic crisis. A possible breakdown of the Franco-German motor is seen with anxiety. The tensions and risks associated with this new political configuration feed discourses about the strain on the Franco-German relationship. Since the new French president took office, the bilateral relationship has indeed proved confrontational. Nevertheless, France and Germany have generally been able to aggregate more easily the support of other EU Member States when they had diverging starting points and only afterwards reached agreement. Initial disagreements are not particularly worrying, the most important being to reach a compromise at some point.
The New French Approach to Common Security and Defence Policy
The New French Approach to Common Security and Defence Policy
(The New French Approach to Common Security and Defence Policy)
- Author(s):Krzysztof Soloch
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Governance, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Geopolitics
- Page Range:21-22
- No. of Pages:2
- Keywords:France; European Union; common policies; security and defence policy; European integration; military policy; humanitarian operations;
- Summary/Abstract:France has continually supported a greater security role for the European Union, and the development of Common Security and Defence Policy is, for Paris, a natural progression for European integration and an essential element in the validity of Common Foreign and Security Policy. As the French took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union in July 2000 and again in 2008, CSDP remained the number one priority for them. After the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, the European Union (EU) was supposed to benefit from a new, more active and effective Common Defence and Security Policy. The CDSP is designed to give the EU the means to cope with crisis resolution—by giving it operational tools (civilian and military ones) it is designed to make the Union’s foreign policy more credible. But the EU is not yet able to influence the course of events in the world around it. The EU’s failure in Libya has confirmed the permanent gap between Europe’s ambitions and its insufficient capacity. The refusal on the part of High Representative Catherine Ashton to accept the EU’s lead in commanding the naval embargo of Libya represented a severe setback for the EEAS when at the same time this proposal had been agreed by the UK, France and other EU members and enjoyed the support of the U.S. The EU remains a major civil power, able to carry out humanitarian operations and provide important economic support. But the EU has yet been unable to influence the course of events.